The Roadrunners opened the baseball season on a high note, going 3-1 at the three-day Fountain Hills Tournament held over the weekend. Holbrook picked up wins over Winslow, Bourgade Catholic and Camp Verde, with their only set back coming against the host team Fountain Hills.

Holbrook opened with a 1-0 defensive gem over Camp Verde. Carlos Quintana won the pitchers’ dual on the hill, facing 25 batters. With eight strikeouts, no walks and only three hits, Quintana was in complete control.

The Roadrunners manufactured only one run, but that was all they needed. Cade Maestas went 1 for 2 with a triple and a walk. Scottie Gishie was 0 for 3, but reached on a fielder’s choice and scored the game’s only run.

Next up on Thursday Holbrook faced Fountain Hills. The Falcons are traditionally a tough team and appear to be one of the state favorites again as they handed the Roadrunners a 9-2 loss. Holbrook trailed 9-0 before scoring twice in the seventh. The Roadrunners collected eight hits, but left eight runners stranded. Gishie went 2 for 4 with a double and scored once. Quintana was 1 for 3. Maestas was 2 for 4 with a double. Lanny Newton-Pender went 1 for 2 with a walk. Alex Hausman went 1 for 3 with a double. Alec Smith was 0-1, but reached once on an error and scored a run. Logan Tsiniginnie went 1-1.

Trevor Barton worked 21/3 innings, giving up six runs, with one strikeout, seven hits and two walks. Tsiniginnie worked 31/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Holbrook defeated rival Winslow 7-6 in a game, with each team collecting four runs. Winslow committed five errors compared to four by the Birds, which may have been the difference.

Newton-Pender won the game on the hill, working five innings. He faced 26 batters and gave up six runs, on four hits with five strikeouts and four walks.

At the plate, Gishie was 1 for 3 with an RBI and scored once. Maestas went 1 for 2 with a double, walked and scored once. Nick Robinson and Haussman each went 0 for 2, but walked and scored once. Michael O’Brien drew two walks and scored once. Dalton Trujillo went 0 for 3, reached once on an error and scored a run. Tristan Baldonado went 2 for 2 with three RBIs and scored once.

Holbrook’s final game was a lopsided 16-1 victory over Bourgade Catholic. The Roadrunners pounded out 16 hits in the win.

Gishie went 3 for 3; Quintana, 2 for 3; Maestas, 2 for 3; Newton-Pender, 1 for 2; Robinson, 1 for 2; Trevor Barton, 1 for 4; Baldonado, 3 for 4; Smith, 2 for 3; and Trujillo, 1 for 1.

On the hill, Baldonado worked four innings, giving up just one run on three hits with four strikeouts and two walks. O’Brien pitched one inning, collecting one strikeout.

After their first regular season game playing at Show Low on Tuesday, the Roadrunners will travel to Joseph City this afternoon (March 4). On Saturday, March 7, they will host St. Johns and on Tuesday, March 10, they play host to Winslow.